Ask The Slot Expert

I've been playing the progressive cyberstud poker on an internet casino. The person who gets a straight flush gets 10 per cent of the jackpot. I got the straight flush but only bet 2 and ante 4. The jackpot was $109,000.00. I only got $808. How is this figured? Must you bet a certain amount to get the true 10 per cent. It did not state how much had to be bet; nor does it state how much you have to bet if you get a royal straight flush to win the Jackpot. I wonder if you could help.

Thank you,
Patricia

Dear Patricia,

In Caribbean Stud Poker, you get 10% of the progressive when you get a straight flush and make a $1 side bet. I'm not sure how it works at the online casino at which you played.

If you can tell me the name of the casino, I can take a look at their rules to see if I can figure out why you received $808 instead of $10,000. Also, did you try asking someone at the casino?

John

John,

Many thanks for your quick response. I made a mistake in my e-mail to you. I meant to say that my ante was 2 and my bet then was 4. The casino was Silver Dollar, but English Harbour and Caribbean Gold are all the same with this Caribbean Progressive Poker game. I haven't asked the casino because I am a real novice at this and I think the casino must know what they are doing! I guess I don't want to appear an idiot and these three casinos have been honest with me over the years playing the slots. I am just totally confused with this Progressive and how it works.

Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Patricia

Dear Patricia,

I downloaded the software for Silver Dollar and took a look at the rules for the game.

You didn't mention anything about placing the progressive side bet. In order to be eligible for the progressive, you have to place a one-dollar side wager in the rotating betting circle. It's not clear what the rotating betting circle is for, but they do explain it in the rules. Someone who had played Caribbean Stud in a physical casino might have recognized what that circle was for. Still, the game screen should have had some sort of notice like they have on the physical tables that you have to make an additional wager to be eligible for the progressive.

Without the side wager, you get paid even money for your ante and 200 to 1 for your bet for a straight flush. Your ante was 2 and your bet was 4, so 200 x 4 + 1 x 2 = $802, plus your original $6 wager equals $808. The payout was correct.

Although it would have been quite profitable to have made the side wager on this hand, the house edge overall on side wagers tends to be very, very high--20% or more. Plus, a buck here and a buck there adds up pretty quickly when you make the progressive wager on every hand. I personally never make the side wager on any table games I play because the house edge is so high and the payoffs, although meaty, are usually few and far between.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Thank you so much for this information. You have been very helpful and it is much appreciated by a novice such as myself.

Patricia

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net.

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